THE MAJOR CAST of ‘Impostor:’ Jason Francisco, Maja Salvador, Sam Milby, and Melissa Cantiveros.

Precious Hearts Romances marks its first anniversary with a very interesting series entitled “Impostor” which starts airing Monday, March 17, at 5:20 p.m. after “PBB Teen Clash 2010 UBER” on ABS-CBN. What makes the new series even more exciting to fans is its major cast: Sam Milby, dubbed the “Prince of Romance,” Maja Salvador, “Drama Sweetheart,” and the “Pinoy Big Brother Double-Up” winners turned real-life lovers Jason Francisco and Melissa “Melai” Cantiveros.

It’s also interesting that “Impostor” has many firsts. It’s the first team-up of Sam and Maja, its the first drama series of the Melason love team, and the first time that Maja is portraying two different roles, and it is for this that she was so excited to accept the project. “May dalawang magka-ibang karakter kasi ako dito sa ‘Impostor,’ na talaga namang very challenging,” Maja said. “Si Mariz na sobrang sexy, at si Devin na kengkoy.”

About being paired with Sam, Maja said “Masuwerte ako kasi sa dami ng mga artista sa generation namin ngayon, pumayag si Sam na ako ang makapareha.” Like Maja, Sam is also happy to be paired with the “Drama Sweetheart.” He said, “It’s my first time to be paired with Maja. I’m really enjoying working with her. We’re having a lot of fun sa taping namin.” Sam plays the role of Anthony, a rich businessman and love interest of Maja’s character Mariz.

Jason and Melai, on the other hand, expressed joy and pride with their first-ever drama series.

“Sobrang saya ko talaga,” Jason said. “Una, kasama ko ang mga idol ko na sina Maja at saka si Sam. Tapos binigyan kaagad kami ni Melai ng pagkakataon sa isang teleserye.” Jason plays Popoy, a simple fisherman, in “Impostor.” Jason added: “Napakarami na po nilang naituro sa amin na iba’t-ibang style at technique sa drama.”

On her part, Melai who plays the role of Devin, expressed: “Sobrang bait nina Sam at Maja. Love na love nila kami kasi palagi nila kaming ginagabayan.”

At the press conference for “Impostor,” Melai impressed us with her candid and honest answers to  questions asked her. She was the perfect interviewee in that you could sense in her no pretension, “walang kaplastikan.” She delighted everyone with her natural and sincere answers to questions about her relationship with Jason.

When asked how far she and Jason has gone in the romance department, Melai said “di ko pa binibigay everything.” They live in the same condominium, she at the fifth floor, and Jason at the fourth floor. Sometimes he visits her but “with my mother around, ang takot lang niya...” and she laughed.

Will she consider having a boob job, considering that she is lacking in this regard? “Hindi, ayoko. Kahit sa ilong lang. Tama na itong binigay sa akin ng Diyos. Saka, ito daw gusto ni Jason eh...”

Melai calls Jason “Sweetie Pie,” and she said they love each other so much at this time that not even Sam can get in the way. Melai’s idol is Jericho Rosales.

Being a PBB alumnus himself, Sam only had praises for Melai and Jason’s loveteam. “Both of them are very raw but natural. Galing din ako ng PBB kaya alam kong nararamdaman nila as newcomers in showbiz.”

Also starring in “Impostor” are Jon Avila, Precious Lara Quigaman, Bobby Andrews, Long Mejia, Yayo Aguila, Raquel Villavicencio, and Izzy Canillo. “Impostor” is directed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan.

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Protest Broadcast 3 Monday night at Big Dome

Another Test Broadcast concert is being held Monday night at the Araneta Coliseum and this time it will benefit the families of the slain journalists in the infamous Maguindanao massacre that happened on Nov. 23, 2009 in Barangay Samiag in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Among those killed were Manila Bulletin correspondent Bong Reblando, Victor Nunez, Macmac Arriola, Jolito Evardo and Daniel Tiamson, all news crew of UNTV.

Bread Society International, in collaboration with UNTV and Breakthrough & Milestones Productions International, is producing “ProTest Broadcast 3” which will also have a concert tour in Cebu on May 23 and Davao City on May 30.

Performers are Gerald Santos, Lloyd Umali, Cookie Chua, Bayang Barrios, Heber Bartolome, Noel Cabangon, Gary Granada, Joey Ayala, Lolita Carbon of Asin and Kuya Daniel Razon.

The Test Broadcast concert series is actually a brainchild of veteran broadcaster Kuya Daniel Razon.

The event is staged annually as a show of compassion to his fellow journalists. To help his colleagues, Kuya Daniel established a medical mission for journalists which is held every first Sunday of the month. The Movie Writers Welfare Foundation is also a beneficiary of his generosity, providing them free medical assistance through the Isang Araw Lang insurance card whose medical benefit is good for one year. He also provided the MWWF an office at the Pacific Corp. Center along West Ave.

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Suy, ready for the big night

In spite of her being a new mother with a four-month baby, Suy said she is ready for the big night. She has all the reasons to believe that she can already perform in one big concert because of her experiences as a singer and recording artist!

Ivory Records has just released for her an album entitled “Simply SUY” which features 12 songs plus three bonus tracks.

The songs are: “Words Get In The Way” (Carrier Single); “Every Now And Then,” “Simple Lang,” “You’re All That I Need,” “Lucky,” “The Show,” “Moonshadow,” “Could’ve Been,” “Later,” “Cry,” “Everyday I Love You,” and “Lost In Your Eyes.” The bonus tracks are: “Love Story,” “Poker Face,” and “I’m Yours.”

Suy, born in Cavite and raised in Davao City, started in the music industry as one of the lead singers for Natural High in Manila in 2004. Her repertoire are mostly soul, R&B and pop. She loves to listen to the music of Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys.

When Natural High was disbanded, she began her solo career as professional recording artist – doing compilation albums for different recording companies and singing back-up vocals for famous recording artists.

Suy is the voice behind the best-selling “Unplugged Series” (compilation album) released by Ivory Music & Video for which she has an exclusive recording contract.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Monday, May 17, go to Aliw Awards founder Alice H. Reyes, Toni Villaraza-Gregory, Boy Gan, Cynthia Yu, Clare Yusi, SK Ruben Esteban, Ralphie Rivero, society columnist Resty Vergara, Esperanza Carino-Guntang, Zita F. Feliciano, and Cynthia Librue… Happy wedding anniversary to Art and Peachie Abacan, and Mr. and Mrs. Silvio Abacan…